Freaking out about first axie please help!!!

[Ammurrica]

I have been researching constantly on axolotls since i discovered them a month ago and decided to buy one last week and it was suppose to ship tomorrow but they shipped it early and it will be arriving tomorrow, however i wanted to have more time to prepare and im very nervous. I got the tank ready with 2 live plants some slate rock (larger) and a hide. Then i proceeded to dechlorinate the water and then i ran nitrite,nitrate,ph, and ammonia tests and they all seemed in the zones reccomended for axolotls. the water is a little under the suggested temp it was 55 when i last checked but it has to reach room temp still so i can check that in the morning. i am wondering if im missing anything else needed done in preperation before putting the axolotl in. also i read that ammonia should be added everyday since im doing a fishless cycle otherwise the bacteria would starve? that i should be able to add 5 ppm of ammonia and have it reduced to 0 ppm in 24 hours, is this true? needed? and where do i buy straight ammonia hopefully someone answers quickly my axolotl is set to arrive tomorrow.

 

[generalbutton]

The best thing I can suggest is research, research, research. It sounds like you're still pretty confused.

The nitrogen cycle, which is what you're missing, is important because it creates bacteria that eats ammonia (fish pee/poop). Once your axie gets in, the ammonia is going to spike and you're going to have to do an in-tank cycle. This is all assuming—from what you've said—that you haven't done a cycle yet. If you have, great! You probably don't need to keep adding ammonia at that point since the axolotl is about to arrive. It'll probably be fine. If you have not done a cycle, it can take up to six weeks to finish the it, sometimes more. I'd suggest doing some research on how to cycle with your axolotl in the tank, since I'm not an expert and I'm pretty new myself.

 

[Skudo09]

From your post, I get the impression you are not familiar with the cycling process? It is important that you understand the process and how it will affect your axolotl as spikes in ammonia and nitrite that occur during the cycling process can cause harm to aquatic life.

In a nutshell, aquatic life such as axolotls produce waste that turns into ammonia. a type of bacteria starts feeding on the ammonia and convert the ammonia into nitrite. Then, a different type of bacteria feeds on the nitrite and converts the nitrite into nitrate. So in an uncycled tank, there are no established colonies of the ammonia/nitrite eating bacteria. The purpose of cycling a tank is to establish colonies of bacteria so that the aquatic life are not exposed to dangerous levels of ammonia and nitrite. Nitrate is the end part of the cycle and whilst it does not pose the same toxin risks as ammonia and nitrite, it is still toxic in high levels and so we need to maintain nitrate within a safe level by removing the nitrate through regular water changes. A cycled tank will read zero ammonia, zero nitrite and a reading of nitrate. You want to keep nitrate below 40ppm.

Here is a link on cycling. Hopefully it will help.

Scales Tails Wings and Things, What is Aquarium Cycling? How to Cycle your Tank

It takes weeks to cycle a tank so if you have not already cycled your tank, it will not be cycled before your axolotl arrives. You will need to decide whether you do a fishless cycle or cycle the tank with the axolotl in the tank. With the axolotl in the tank, you would need to conduct frequent water changes to ensure the levels of ammonia and nitrite remain at safe levels (below 0.25ppm). With a fishless cycle, you would need an alternative place to keep your axolotl until the tank is fully cycled. Keeping the axolotl in a tub of cool, clean, dechlorinated water and doing daily 100% water changes is needed. You could have a second tub pre-prepared next to the first tub so you can transfer the axolotl each day and pour the old water into the tank to help the cycling process. Whilst doing the fishless cycle, you would need an ammonia source such as pure ammonia to feed the bacteria.

Personally, I would do the fishless cycling method. I believe it is safer for your axolotl and the process is easier and can be a little quicker (although it still takes weeks). If you can source some material from an already cycled tank, such as filter media, this will help speed up the process. Below is a link to a guide on how to do a fishless cycle.

The (almost) Complete Guide and FAQ to Fishless Cycling - Aquarium Advice - Aquarium Forum Community

 

[Ammurrica]

yes i spent all night checking on the fishless cycle i dont know why i was assuming that only accounted for fish, thinking that an axolotl would not be considered as a fish. so it is said to come today and i have done all the testing but the ammonia colonies im going out today to buy some pure ammonia with no additives to add to the tank, i am suppose to be receiving a 10 gallon tank from a friend today would you reccomend i just fill that up and dechlorinate it while i allow this tanks bacteria to grow?

 

[ChristineB]

Keeping it in a 10-gallon with very frequent, large water changes while you cycle the main tank sounds like a good solution. BUT, you'll have to change all the water each day, or you'd just be doing "in-tank cycling" on the 10-gallon, at which point you need to do frequent water testing.

What I would do is keep the 10-gal aquarium only half full so you can keep a 5-gallon bucket ready each day for water changes. Each day, scoop your little guy into a Tupperware, dump the aquarium, and refill it with your bucket of de-chlorinated water (then fill your bucket for the next day). The lower water volume won't be a problem since you're doing 100% water changes. (Other than having space to swim, the reason for a larger tank is mainly to maintain healthy water quality.)

 

[Ammurrica]

ok i can do this, and while doing this i need to also be cycling the main tank upon which the axolotl will go into?

 

[BinaryRun]

ok i can do this, and while doing this i need to also be cycling the main tank upon which the axolotl will go into?

Yes. Your new tank will be fully cycled if your ammonia changes into nitrate within 24 hours. Once this happens after a few weeks, your axolotl is ready to move into it's new home! :happy:

 

[MrsAlishaSmith]

You to not need to worry about cycling before you put him in. Do VERY FREQUENT water changes for the first 6 weeks and keep testing. I NEVER cycle first for them, they are NOT sensitive to this like fish. They do just fine. Just keep up with water changes so nothing spikes

Sent from my VS985 4G using Tapatalk

 

[xxianxx]

Axolotls are a lot more sensitive to ammonia than most fish, the acceptable level for them is zero. It's best to do a fishless cycle rather than leave them in a cycling tank.

 

[Ammurrica]

I am still cycling his tank checking daily for the ammonia to go down and nitrite to rise, he is staying in a small tank that i do water changes on every 24 hours with more dechlorinated water, i was initially worried but he seems to be doing fine and his appetite has certainly not been affected

 

[Ammurrica]

Today finally nitrites have arrived, i will keep checking their levels ammonia levels and now nitrate levels, when nitrates rise and ammonia can go from 5ppm to 0ppm in a day is when i can put him in?

 

[STCxB]

It should be able to turn 4 or 5 ppm of ammonia into 4 or 5 ppm nitrites and then into lots of nitrates and no ammonia or nitrites within 24 hours. If that makes sense.